Convertible box structure



Aug. 21, 1951 R. F. WEBER CONVERTIBLE BOX STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 19, 1947 Iwenivr .EF Zz/eber P Patented Aug. 21 1951 CONVERTIBLE Box STRUCTURE Roman F. WebenChicago, Ill., assignor to Inter? national Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 19, 1947, Serial No. 786,934

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a storage container and more particularly to a box-type container that may readily be adapted for shipping articles and thereupon converted into a storage box for said articles. More specifically, this invention relates to a container and a method for converting said. container into a storage bin.

In customary shipping procedures, when the article is shipped from the manufacturer for resale, the articles or materials are usually shipped in containers which are discarded after they have reached their ultimate destination. The material is then usually transferred to a bin where it is stored until it is ultimately sold. The result of course is expensive and wasteful since the containers lose utility value after they have been Once used in this manner. The transfer of the articles from the container to a storage bin also results in great expense resulting from the time consuming-operation. In addition, of course, the

recipient of the goods must maintain numerous storage bins which require the-outlay of considerable capital. Applicants familiarity with this procedure has resulted in the design of a new shipping container that provides the solution for this problem.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved container for shipping articles, said container being constructed to be readily converted into a storage bin in an inexpensive and efiicient manner.

Another object is to provide a shipping box having wire reinforced sides and a hinged door, said wire being arranged to retain the door in a closed position, portions of said wire being adapted to be utilized as a sliding retaining member for limiting the open position of the door.

A further object is to provide an improved method for converting a wire reinforced shipping container into a storage bin in a quick and emcient manner.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds whenexamined in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box which has been converted into a storage bin, said box being supported on a pallet construction.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a pair of boxes or containers placed one on top of the other to show a storage arrangement.

Referring to the drawing, a box structure is generally designated by the reference character Ill. The box structure is preferably made of wooden sections as indicated, thereby providing 2 a rigid, sturdy design. I he box structure In includes vertical end walls II and [2 on top of which is supported an upper wall 13. A bottom wall I4 is connected to the lower ends of the end walls I I and Hand to side walls l5.

' An opening l6 provided at the upper end of the boxstructure ID and this opening is arranged to cooperate with a door I I connected at its lower end. by. means of hinges l8 to the side wall l5. The hinges may be made of flat strips of ductile metal material which will readily bend or hinge when it is desired to open the door II. In this manner an inexpensive construction is provided.

A plurality of wire strandslil are wound around on the sides and ends of the box to reinforce the same. These strands are securely knotted as indicated at 20. The knotted ends may be positioned anywhere around the sides of the box, i being only necessary that a taut holding force be obtained by these Wire strands. At spaced intervals'along the wire strands there are fastened fasteners or securing members 22. These members 2 2 may be preferably in the form of conventional U-shaped staples having loop portions encircling the wired strands and rigidly securing the same to the box. The wire strand I19 is preferably of a metallic spring-like material which does not readily lose its shape during use.

As shownin Figs. 1 and 2 the box structures ,1!) are supported on pallets 23. The pallets 23 support the box on the floor and may also be placed in betwe n t e o e whe t e are i d on top of one another as shown in Fig. 2.

During the shipment of repair parts and other replacement members it is desirable to provide a sturdy box structure that will support a load o he vy ob ts. Th s p of t dy n t uction is readily obtained by utilizing the wooden en and side Wal s whi h a e rigidly r inf r by means of the wire strands l9. When repair parts, orother objects that have been shipped, arrive at their destination it is usually desirable to store the parts in a bin from which they can readily be removed. By utilizing a shipping con- ,tainer which is constructed in the manner shown, it is clear that the problem of storing replacement parts is easily eliminated by the utilization of an inexpensive and effi cient method of construction;

The recipient of the shipped boxes usually piles them one on top of the other in the manner shown and upon a specific request for certain parts he will go to the stacked boxes and thereupon open the hinged doors to remove the parts.

Applicant has thus devised an improved box construction which provides a handy bin structure after it has reached its destination. A resilient wire strand is Wrapped around the sides of the box to reinforce the same during shipment. After the wire is thus wrapped it is securely tied so that a taut condition will result. In order to secure the wire to the box, U-shaped fastener members are stapled or hammered into the ends and sides of the box. After the box has been shipped or is ready to be opened, a portion of the upper wire I9 is severed thereby severing the wire [9 into two independent strands. A first independent strand of wire so severed lies adjacent the upper wall of the box and serves to reinforce the end walls H and one of the side walls l5. The second independent strand of wire runs along the upper edge of the door for reinforcing the same. The second independent strand also includes flexible severed portions 25 of wire which project outwardl from the door and overlap the box structure. The severed portions 25 extend through the loops of the fasteners 22 in telescoping relation. The ends of the flexible portion are bent angularly forming L-shaped 1 stop members 25. The operator can now readily open the hinged door I1, and the flexible portions 25 slide on the fasteners 22 relative to the box structure. The hinged door is thus opened until the stop it engages one of the fastener members 22, whereupon the opening movement of the door is limited and the door is retained in position. The operator then turns the severed ends of the first independent strand of the wire I9 downwardly as indicated at 26.

By thus severing the wire strands and by bending over the severed ends, it can readily be seen that a novel type of sliding fastener has been provided and a unique box construction is provided that is inexpensive and can quickly and readily be manufactured. With the hinged door in the open position shown, it can readily be appreciated that a bin has been provided in which the parts can be stored indefinitely. If at any time it is desired to close the hinged door 11, the operator merely closes the door and the sliding members 25 slide through the fasteners 22 and assume their previous position.

Box structures which are ordinarily discarded may now be effectivel utilized for storage bins. It can readily be appreciated that regardless of the number of boxes that are stacked upon one another materials can be removed from any one of them by merely severing the wire strands and opening the doorll as shown in the drawing. Boxes of this type, therefore, may be readily used over and over again for shipping and storage and thus the utility thereof is tremendously increased.

It should be understood that modifications may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention a disclosed nor as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage bin comprising a box structure having a hinged door, a first wire strand wrapped around a portion of the box for reinforcing the same, a second wire strand wrapped around a portion of the box structure and engaging the door for reinforcing the same and for retaining the door in a closed position, said second strand including flexible portions projecting outwardly from the door and overlapping the box structure, fasteners connecting the first and second strands to the box structure, said fasteners including loops engaging the flexible portions in telescoping relation, and angularly bent ends on the flexible portions, said flexible portions being arranged and constructed to slide within the loops of the fasteners upon opening of said door whereby the angularly bent ends engage the fasteners to provide stops for limiting the open position of the door.

2. A storage bin comprising a box structure having a hinged door, a first wire strand wrapped around a portion of the box for reinforcing the same, a second wire strand wrapped around a portion of the box structure, said second strand extending along the upper edge of the hinged door for reinforcing the same in its closed position, said second strand including flexible portions projecting outwardly from the door and overlapping the box structure, fasteners connecting the first and second strands to the box structure, said fasteners including loops engaging the flexible portions in telescoping relation, and angularly bent ends on the flexible portions, said flexible portions being arranged and constructed to slide within the loops of the fasteners upon opening of said door whereby the angularly bent ends engage the fasteners to provide stops for limiting the open position of said door.

3. A storage bin comprising a box structure, a door on said box structure, hinge means connected to a first edge of said door for hingedly connecting the door to said box structure, a wire strand connected to said door adjacent a second edge oppositely disposed with respect to said first edge, said wire strand being substantially coextensive with said door for reinforcing the same, oppositely disposed flexible portions on said wire strand, said flexible portions being elongated and projecting outwardly of the door for overlapping the box structure, fasteners connected to the box structure, said fasteners including loops engaging the flexible portions in telescoping relation, and angularly bent ends on the flexible portions, said flexible portions being arranged and constructed to slide within the loops of the fasteners upon opening of said door whereby the angularly bent ends engage the fasteners to provide stops for limiting the open position of said door.

ROMAN F. WEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 435,541 Harrison Sept. 2, 1890 451,365 Brewington Apr. 28, 1891 540,535 Chaffin June 4, 1895 676,354 Craine June 11, 1901 923,588 Shellenberger June 1, 1909 960,629 Carroll June 7,1910

2,178,213 Weiller Oct. 31, 1939 2,351,092 Bauer June 13, 1944 

